My closest experience would be with a Blackhawk .45 Colt, which my ex-wife took in a divorce 3 years ago. I only shot over-the-counter generic rounds in the .45 Colt, which seemed to be very controllable and accurate (The ex-wife was a sniper with it).

Recoil-wise, how would shooting "average" .44 mag ammunition compare to my experience with the .45 Colt?

Is using .44 spl the trick?

I'd also like to try some of the high end doubletap stuff, I.E. the 1200 ft-lb ME, 300 grain monsters. If I gotta ask, is the recoil gonna be too much? This would just be for the novelty of 'sploding a cantalope or charging jackrabbit.

Also, is a 5-1/2" barreled .44 mag a waste of good potential, like a 9 inch barrel on a AR?

I like the appearance of the 5-1/2" barrel versus the longer 7-1/2.

Realistically, it'll be more for fondling than actual shooting. It'll be used for camping and blowing up watermelons, etc. I'd still like it to be shootable, fun, and powerful.

I'm a lefty, so the mechanics of loading a double action revolver is enough of a PITA that I actually prefer single actions. I also like the old west-ish allure of the single action.

W.E.G.

August 12, 2009, 12:09

Sounds like your mind is already made up.

If you have the cash, I say go for it... except I prefer blued single-action guns. Keep some oil on it, and it won't rust.

I don't like using shorter cases in magnum handguns. You can get a fouling ring that will make magnum cases stick on extraction. So, I vote no on the .44 special ammo. Just handload some mild loads in the magnum cases.

If you have the cash, I say go for it... except I prefer blued single-action guns. Keep some oil on it, and it won't rust.

I don't like using shorter cases in magnum handguns. You can get a fouling ring that will make magnum cases stick on extraction. So, I vote no on the .44 special ammo. Just handload some mild loads in the magnum cases.

I'm not totally ruling out a blued one. There's a local dealer that has several used ones for $300ish, and a clean older one with the nicer Ruger bluing would be cool. :shades:

W.E.G.

August 12, 2009, 12:51

Originally posted by DaisyCutter

I'm not totally ruling out a blued one. There's a local dealer that has
several used ones for $300ish, and a clean older one with the nicer Ruger
bluing would be cool. :shades:

Now you are thinking smart.
"Pre-warning" models are the ones you can love.

.41 Mag. for my 41st birthday.

I'm just about at the point now, that if I stay with this "birthday caliber"
thing, I'm gonna have to get registered destructive devices. :D

I have a Super Redhawk and wouldn't take for it. Its accurate and tough as nails. Lots of people bash Ruger but one thing they do well is build a good revolver - excellent value for the money.

The hand cannon I own wears a 7 1/2" barrel. My dad has a .454 with a 9 1/2" barrel. After shooting that, I'll never own a handgun with a barrel longer than 7 1/2". They're just too long and unwieldly in my expereince.

I bought my .44 to hunt with after and I put the red dot on it, the longer barrel balanced it out nicely. However, if I would bought it to haul around with me (like my next one I plan on buying) I would have bought something in the 4"-5.5" range. With open sights, I think they balance about right with roughly that much barrel.

As for shooting a .44, its not bad - especially in a Ruger sized platform. The recoil will probably torqure your wrist a little more than the tame .45 Colt loads you're used to but its nothing to be afraid of. Plus this is a popular caliber so ammo is available for it most places. If you're thinking about taking the plunge, I'd say go for it.

Randall

August 12, 2009, 14:57

I never could understand what the fuss was all about. I've shot a .44mag a couple times, but can't say I really enjoyed the experience. I just think it's overkill for a handgun. Too much recoil. Too much muzzle movement. Too much flash and bang, too slow in follow up shots. Personal opinion. .357mag is as big as I care to go in a handgun.

The Super Blackhawk is my favorite 44 Magnum of all time. I prefer the 4 5/8" model. Great hammer, great looks, can anyone say retro. Love the non fluted look too. 44 Magnum recoil isn't bad at all. Get two, one for each hand. :D

gobbler

August 12, 2009, 16:38

Since you are only plinking & like the western look, the 6 inch Blackhawk is the trick. If you were hunting, I would go with the Redhawk long barrel since it is easier to scope and more accurately shoot in a hunting situation. As far as the loads, I would load my own. You can load the .44 mag anywhere from a light .44 special , all the way to a wrist breaking hottie. It is up to you what you want to shoot. You can't beat a Blackhawk for safety, especially when handloading. They will handle damn near anything! Sounds like you are making a great choice, enjoy.

gobbler

Para Driver

August 12, 2009, 17:42

Originally posted by W.E.G.
I don't like using shorter cases in magnum handguns. You can get a fouling ring that will make magnum cases stick on extraction. So, I vote no on the .44 special ammo. Just handload some mild loads in the magnum cases.

I'd agree, just download the 44 mag cases.. Also, constant full power magnum ammo will eventually shoot any revolver loose. 6" is a good size, I see no reason for the 8".. but that's just personal opinion.

You can always get it mag-na-ported, that works well

Go for it..

parallaxbill

August 12, 2009, 19:02

DC, I just picked up a blued 1997 version of the Ruger Super Blackhawk with a 5.5" barrel. It has the regular round trigger guard and slightly shorter barrel than the original SB Rugers which came with Dragoon style guards and a 7.5" barrel. I had one of those in SS and loved it but the dragoon trigger guard would bust one of my knuckles when firing hot loads.

I also used to own a 6.5" Blackhawk in 357 and it was really tame compared to the 44.

But, if you can find a 6.5 barrel you will have the best handling Blackhawk with enough barrel length to get most of the potential out of the 44 magnum cartridge and yes you can practice and plink with the 44 specials.

I picked up mine today for $350 in near mint condition.

My other Ruger is a bird's head 3.75" Ruger Vaquero in 45 LC. It is fun to shoot and the fit and finish is superb. Great trigger too. Not to commonly bragged on with Ruger single actions. ;)

Here's my 44 Super Blackhawk. I haven't shot it enough yet to offer much for advice other than to "grip it firmly":uhoh: . I like it though.:wink:

K. Funk

August 13, 2009, 17:05

I have a 7-1/2" Redhawk, 7-1/2" Super BH and a 4-4/5" Super BH, all stainless. I have shot several others. I shoot evrything from cast mild loads to 325 gr wrist twisters. .44 Mag is one of my favorite calibers and it is very easy to reload for. I also enjoy .45 Colt, .44-40 and .44 Special.

krf

DYNOMIKE

August 13, 2009, 17:29

Well I'll throw my $.02 into the kitty as well...

The .44 Mag is prolly my favorite round for a number of reasons..
Accuracy in all my .44's is nothing short of outstanding, my Custom Super B-Hawk and the .44 Mag TC barrel have both impressed the crap out of me too many times to count..
The .44 Mag is easy to load for and as K.Funk noted they can be either nice mild loads or wrist twisters and I love them both..
A great selection of bullets are available and a couple powders in particular are excellent performers....
IMHO everyone should own/shoot at least One .44 Maggy, they really are awesome..

Couple of mine for your viewing pleasure..
The Super B-hawk tricked out by Magna-Port about 20 years ago.. You do your part and she will amaze you..

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj295/DYNOMIKE_photos/P1310014.jpg

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj295/DYNOMIKE_photos/P2030010.jpg

The CANNON is my S&W 629 3".. What a BLAST to shoot she is and the price I picked her up ranks in my top 5 all time GREAT Deal gun purchases..

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj295/DYNOMIKE_photos/P2020015.jpg

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj295/DYNOMIKE_photos/P5260044.jpg

parallaxbill

August 13, 2009, 17:35

Here is my newest. A 5.5" Super Blackhawk that will be accompanying me in the deer woods in about 6 weeks. ;)

I met a guy at a range years ago shooting a 45LC Blackhawk with some seriously hot loads using trimmed-back 454 Casull brass with the thicker walls. I'd think there is no reason one couldn't load such a cartridge to match hot 44 mag, or as soft as you want with wadcutters and such. I would not attempt to turn a 45 LC into a Casull, though. I wonder if the cylinder and frame are different metallurgically for the super-heavies. If you are already geared up with 45 LC stuff then this might make sense. If not, then go with 44 mag.

Recoiljunkie44

August 29, 2009, 17:13

GO For it SBH are awesome in .44 mag ! I Personally love mine, had for almost 5 years and love to shoot it! One personal recomendation is that if you want it to make it pleasent to shoot then spend like 20 dollars and get a set of hogue grips for it! The rubber overmold makes the recoil feel more like a 357! My father put a set on his and I like it! I can't quite make the switch because I love the look of a single action with rosewood grips but have purchased these because i might get enough courage to put them on if I know that I will be spending quite some time at the Range!!!!!:bigangel: